I am really surprised to see other reviews here which are negative, because I had a great…read moreexperience and I'm very picky about Mexican food. So picky in fact my friend Davis and I go to get Mexican once a week in Ocala because we're not satisfied with any Gainesville or Newberry Mexican restaurants. The ambience here is . . . well, you can see it as festive or garish I guess either one. Very brightly colored Mexican chairs and everything else. Both a radio playing and television on with sound: I don't get why restaurants need to have TVs, I can see it for a sports bar but every single restaurant? Come on. Service however was friendly and prompt. Then there is the food. The chips and salsa were certainly homemade and tasty. I ordered chicken tamales and the three-tamale plate comes with rice, black beans, and the tamales themselves buried beneath a salad of lettuce, tomato, and Mexican cheese. The plate was enormous and every aspect of it fresh and very, very, good. The tamales, especially. Prices are very fair for such quality and large plates of food. Maybe when it first opened things ran a bit rough hence the poor reviews but I was only impressed: first-rate authentic Mexican with a varied menu and very good portions.

The pupusa's are some of the best we've ever had, there was a healthy Salvadoran population where…read morewe came from and once we got here... well, we missed pupusa's a great deal. Their Birria tacos are also very delicious! Definitely recommend, the only thing that could be improved on in my opinion are the chips.

A spur of the moment stop at 8:15 at night. World Cup in Spanish on the TV, and people cheering the…read moregame! Piping hot tortilla chips were plunked on the table with some fantastic salsa. The 2 of us shared the Molcajete for 2, recommended by our server, and a horchata. The dinner had shrimp, beef, chicken, cactus, and roasted poblano peppers, and cheese baked on the side of the pot. Rice and beans came with it and some nice hot tortillas. We had enough leftovers for us to both have lunch the next day!

i ordered 3 things from the menu & 1/3 was alright. i wasted $40 for horrible food & i never leave…read morereviews but this was just bad.

This restaurant was in the recommendations from our Airbnb host. It did not disappoint! It was busy…read morebut there is ample seating. We went on a Wednesday, where the special was fajitas for $5.99 - such a good deal. My husband got the steak fajitas and I got the camerones a la diabla. The chips and salsa were so good. The chips were crunchy and thick. Good for dipping. I was disappointed that I didn't find any of the same chips in the supermarket attached to the restaurant. I'd come back for sure!

What's the deal about eggs ???…read more La Hacienda is a down to earth, unassuming and friendly place where truckers, traveling nurses, and all kinds of people come together over genuinely excellent, shamelessly affordable Mexican food. Starved .... I showed up at 11:15 AM craving Huevos Rancheros and found out they'd cut off breakfast at 11 AM. I get that restaurants have systems, but La Hacienda is in the perfect position to serve breakfast ALL day. Shift workers need breakfast all day. Truckers eat at weird times and also need breakfast all day. Nurses finishing graveyard shifts still need breakfast all day. The food quality and value here are genuinely unbeatable, which makes this so frustrating. So what's the deal with the arbitrary cutoff???? Why can't eggs be served all day? I've never understood this.

We found Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant in Gainesville through a last-minute Facebook Valentine's…read moreDay event, and WOW what a surprise! The event said no reservations needed, so we showed up not realizing how popular it would be. The place was PACKED with a line out the door! Even so, we only waited about 25 minutes for a table on Valentine's Day, which honestly wasn't bad at all considering the crowd. We went specifically for their Valentine's special: 2 margaritas, fajitas for two, and dessert, such a great deal! The margaritas were delicious. We ordered the Rita sampler and the blueberry margarita tasted like blueberry pie, so fresh, organic, and absolutely yummy. We also ordered homemade guacamole, which was delectable, paired with fresh, crispy homemade chips. Our fajitas included steak, pork, chicken, and shrimp, and everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors were incredible!!! And can we talk about the restaurant itself? It's HUGE! It felt like one of those multi-level Times Square NYC restaurants, with multiple floors and even outside patio seating. It was like a magic trick walking through it! Our waitress, Lia, was fantastic, attentive, helpful, and so sweet despite how busy it was. The staff worked incredibly hard all night and it showed. Plentiful parking, amazing food, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back to this hidden gem we didn't even know existed in town. Thank you for making our Valentine's Day special after a long day of yard work

Great food. They are very popular so it took us awhile to get seated. We were seated in 2top that…read morewas too close to bar where waiters were entering and exiting constantly bumping my seat. I really liked the vegetarian trio course and the salsa bar. They make their own salad dressing that was my favorite. We tried the margarita sampler it was fun and good presentation. Mostly frozen dessert cocktails. If you want something to pair with a main course it's better to get regular margarita.

Food was amazing! The steak burrito and birra quesadilla with sauce were both out of this world.read more

Ok but prices went up. They need to figure out how customer service works. This is inside a gas…read morestation

Great food and service Have eaten there many times…read more Best Mexican food in this area. The menu is very expansive and the drink choices are plentiful.

Great food, fast and hot, awesome customer service. Great…read moreplace for a couples night out or take the hole family, very good decor!

As someone who travels to Mexico frequently, I can honestly say this is some of the most authentic…read moreMexican food I've found in Florida. Every bite was packed with incredible flavor, and the dishes tasted like they came straight from a family kitchen in Mexico. Jose was absolutely fantastic! He was friendly, attentive, and made our entire experience even more enjoyable with his excellent service and great recommendations. The atmosphere is just as impressive as the food. The beautiful, authentic Mexican décor makes you feel like you've stepped into a charming restaurant in Mexico, and the bar is absolutely stunning--one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. It's the perfect place to relax with an amazing margarita or tequila while soaking in the ambiance. If you're looking for authentic Mexican cuisine, outstanding service, and an unforgettable dining experience, this is the place. As someone who spends a lot of time in Mexico, I don't hand out compliments like this lightly. This restaurant exceeded my expectations, and I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!

Stopped here while traveling through and really enjoyed it! The margarita menu had so many fun…read moreoptions, and I loved that they offer margarita flights so you can sample four flavors. My husband and I each ordered a different one so we could share. The salsa was fresh and delicious, and the fajitas were good. I'd probably order chicken instead of steak next time, but that's just my personal preference. Overall, a great stop with good food and drinks!

Good food and friendly service. My husband liked their baked fish. I like their vegetables. Looking…read moreforward to their reopening.

The best restaurant hands down. My family and I have been going for more than 25+ years. They had a…read morefire and are remodeling it. We can't wait for it 2 open. Must go and try. I have had everything on the menu. If I could give more stars I would.